Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.

Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. They may say they are red hot about something unfair. When they are red hot they are very angry about something. The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.

Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health.

The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling stomach may say she feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.

Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back side of the paper money.

The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day. A blacklist is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.

In some cases, colors describe a situation. A brown out is an expression for a reduction in electric power. Brown outs happen when there is too much demand for electricity. The electric system is unable to offer all the power needed in an area. Black outs are common during World War two. Officials would order all lights in a city turned off to make it difficult for enemy planes to find a target in the dark of night.

61. Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT____.

   A. something unfair                                                      B. small hot-tasting peppers

   C. the person who is very angry                                 D. popular music like Dixieland jazz

62. People use “in the pink” to express they are in good health because____.

   A. the expression has a very long history                B. the color pink makes people feel happy

   C. people think the color pink is gentler than red    D. healthy babies are born with nice pink skin

63. When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she____.

   A. enjoys himself in boating                                         B. is hit by a high wave

   C. has a stomach ache                                                           D. likes trees and grass

64. In the writer’s eyes，what is related to a black day?

   A. Being sent a beautiful gift                                      B. Passing a very difficult test

   C. Being refused during an important interview   D. Being invited to an exciting party

65. The writer wants to tell us ______in American everyday expressions

   A. the most popular colors                          B. different meanings of colors   

   C. how to use colors correctly                        D. why Americans like to use colors

Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.

Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. They may say they are red hot about something unfair. When they are red hot they are very angry about something. The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.

Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health.

The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling stomach may say she feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.

Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back side of the paper money.

The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day. A blacklist is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.

In some cases, colors describe a situation. A brown out is an expression for a reduction in electric power. Brown outs happen when there is too much demand for electricity. The electric system is unable to offer all the power needed in an area. Black outs are common during World War two. Officials would order all lights in a city turned off to make it difficult for enemy planes to find a target in the dark of night.

61. Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT____.

   A. something unfair                                                      B. small hot-tasting peppers

   C. the person who is very angry                                 D. popular music like Dixieland jazz

62. People use “in the pink” to express they are in good health because____.

   A. the expression has a very long history                B. the color pink makes people feel happy

   C. people think the color pink is gentler than red    D. healthy babies are born with nice pink skin

63. When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she____.

   A. enjoys himself in boating                                         B. is hit by a high wave

   C. has a stomach ache                                                           D. likes trees and grass

64. In the writer’s eyes，what is related to a black day?

   A. Being sent a beautiful gift                                      B. Passing a very difficult test

   C. Being refused during an important interview   D. Being invited to an exciting party

65. The writer wants to tell us ______in American everyday expressions

   A. the most popular colors                          B. different meanings of colors   

   C. how to use colors correctly                        D. why Americans like to use colors